He looked from her to the beauty seated on her floor. "Itake it this is your sister."

"Yes." She glanced around quickly to see what AuntDoris was doing, and found she'd sunk onto the cushion-less couch, which was now jammed up against the wall.She was looking suddenly old, fanning herself weakly withher hand.

Charity felt sick. She knew Doris hadn't seenFaith for at least ten years. Her memories had most likely softened with time.

"My sister," she repeated and sighed."Would you like a glass of water or something?" she asked her aunt anxiously.

"Herbal tea will fix her right up." Faith had a ceramicteapot and poured some quickly into a black enamel cup,rising to take it to Aunt Doris.

"Here you are, Doris,dear," she said affectionately. "It's nice to see you again.I dreamed about you last night. You were beckoning for me to follow you into a room full of toasters, but when I got there, you
slammed the door in my face."

She leaneddown to kiss the
woman's cheek. "What do you think itmeans?"

Aunt Doris stared at her, tried to smile, then looked down suspiciously into the tea Faith had handed her.